In the News

June 2, 2015 | Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will hold her first big presidential campaign rally June 13 at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park, located on the aptly named Roosevelt Island in New York City. The park’s board members might be hard-pressed to have it any other way: Many have given money to Clinton and…

May 20, 2015 | Former members of the 113th Congress have embarked on various new adventures since their defeats, retirements or departures for other reasons: Some are teaching, others are pondering away at think tanks, a couple are embedded in corporate culture, a few are even enjoying their freedom and sleeping a little later every morning. Not surprisingly, though,…

October 14, 2014 | Different factions of the Republican Party are uniting in Kansas against a common enemy: the independent who is threatening Sen. Pat Roberts‘s re-election bid. The GOP has swooped in to support the three-term Republican incumbent against self-proclaimed centrist Greg Orman. National party operatives like Chris LaCivita have taken the reigns of Roberts’s campaign, according to Bloomberg.…

August 4, 2014 | As the fighting in Gaza escalated over the past few weeks, Congress said and did little, except consider a bi-partisan bill just before recess to replenish aid to Israel’s missile defense program. At a time when nearly everything is grounds for noisy partisan rancor, this unusual silence and cooperation indicates general accord on Capitol Hill…

June 25, 2014 | Already finding the 2014 mid-term elections a little passe? Already pining for the next presidential election in 2016? Well, there’s good news for you: The first 2016 presidential ads have been aired! And, not surprisingly, they were negative, and they both targeted Hillary Clinton. While presidential hopefuls have been angling for advantages in early primary states for…

June 17, 2014 | Since the beginning of the 2014 campaign cycle last year, 14 donors — running the gamut from a hedge fund manager to a gay rights activist to a little-known Salt Lake City venture capitalist — have given $100,000 or more to President Barack Obama’s avowedly un-campaign committee, Organizing for Action. Another 26 have ponied up…

January 9, 2014 | A watershed moment for the finances of members of Congress: In 2012, more than half were millionaires, a new analysis by the Center for Responsive Politics shows. Also, Darrell Issa reclaims the top spot.

November 7, 2013 | The amount of outside spending that's occurred in the 2014 election cycle is up dramatically from its level at the same point in the last cycle. Spending by dark money groups alone has increased even more. The real surprise is that liberal groups have dominated the scene so far.

October 1, 2013 | On Wednesday, Secretary of State John Kerry signed the U.N. Arms Trade Treaty, igniting a wave of criticism from pro-gun members of Congress. A closer look shows most of those opponents depend on the gun lobby for campaign cash.

August 29, 2013 | President Obama might hope that his new education initiative doesn't rile too many in academia: By reputation, college professors and staff members are solid Democrats, and a deeper look at their campaign contributions by the Center for Responsive Politics mostly backs that up -- though certain types of schools tend to skew more left than others.

February 22, 2013 | Politicians watching the Oscars this weekend of course will be seeing stars, just like the rest of us. But many of them -- Democrats, at least -- may see something much more alluring: dollar signs. Of the 51 actors, directors and producers nominated for the six most-watched categories, 25 nominees or their spouses have contributed to a political candidate or cause since 1990, nearly all of them Democratic. Most supported Obama either in 2008 or 2012, or both. And "Lincoln" is the money-and-politics blockbuster of the year.

February 21, 2013 | Obama finance director may head to Copenhagen. Also, Oceana may have made the New York Times' front page regarding seafood mislabeling, but it's been lobbying on this issue for some time.

February 15, 2013 | When the Democrats were putting together their convention in Charlotte, they shunned corporate contributions, only to run into a funding crisis. Their workarounds included a loan guaranteed by Duke Energy -- a loan that appears to be turning into a donation.

January 31, 2013 | The FEC's higher contribution limits may be better news for Republicans than Dems: far more contributors maxed out to Romney than Obama. Also, Urban Outfitters' new CEO leans right, a distinct change from the chain's last leader.

January 18, 2013 | The Lance Armstrong Foundation, which in November officially changed its name to the Livestrong Foundation, has spent over $2 million lobbying on funding for cancer research since 2001, and Boeing has some good friends in Washington help it battle the turbulence its currently experiencing.

January 16, 2013 | Think the Congress that just ended was out of touch with America? The new one may be no better, judging by how much it's worth. Overall, lawmakers are even wealthier than in previous years, according to our analysis of their 2011 financial disclosure statements, and 257 of them -- seven more than in 2010 -- are millionaires.

January 4, 2013 | The recent grounding of a Shell oil rig near Alaska has once again focused attention on questions about Arctic oil drilling -- something the company has fought for long and hard in Washington. Barney Frank is making noise about returning to Congress -- as a senator?

January 3, 2013 | Will Scott Brown jump back into the frying pan so soon after his bruising, and incredibly costly, 2012 race? A big factor is whether he thinks he can raise the money for a third race in four years. Also, how the fiscal cliff legislation came to include tax credits benefiting many large corporations, and why New Jersey and New York matter to lawmakers like John Boehner.

December 20, 2012 | Two members of Congress -- a Republican and a Democrat -- are on the NRA's board of directors. Also, members of Congress and GM stock, and Sen. Tom Harkin's relationship with a company pushing the dollar coin.

December 18, 2012 | Sen. Daniel Inouye broke many barriers, but he never had to set any fundraising records: He was a lock for re-election every time. Also, the Club for Growth declares the Superstorm Sandy relief bill a waste of money.

November 29, 2012 | U.N. Ambassador and Secretary of State candidate Susan Rice is one of the wealthiest members of the executive branch, and she has millions of dollars in the finance, insurance, real estate and energy and natural resources sectors.

November 15, 2012 | Sen. John McCain says he'll oppose Susan Rice as Secretary of State, though not because she was an Obama bundler in 2008. Also, we know about presidential bundlers (well, not so much about Romney's), but what about those who bundled for incoming lawmakers?

October 11, 2012 | The national spotlight that focused on the 2010 Senate race won by Republican Scott Brown has once again lit up Massachusetts. Challenger Elizabeth Warren had outraised the incumbent through the first half of the year, and both candidates had plenty of money in the bank.

September 6, 2012 | Labor unions not the stars of this year's convention, celebrities, however, seem to be making quite the splash, and Rahm Emanuel seeks to make a bigger splash by moving to the super PAC world.

August 23, 2012 | Patriot Majority's latest series of attack ads targets the conservative billionaires pumping money into the secretive world of right-wing non-profits, but offers few clues about who is funding its own activities. In a striking example of how the most ambitious actors in the realm of political funding have begun taking advantage of a shift in the legal landscape since 2010, the trail connecting Patriot Majority to its well-known progressive funders has all but melted away. Almost all of Patriot Majority's activities are now being carried out through a nonprofit that, under section 501(c)(4) of the tax code, doesn't have to disclose its donors.

August 20, 2012 | Read up on Todd Akin's campaign finance background, secretive nonprofit's shift their strategies and after Romney's campaign picked up $7 million on a fundraising tour of the East Coast's fanciest zipcodes, we wondered who the people that actually live there write their checks to.

July 16, 2012 | Super PACs turn out to be good repositories for cash from family in Washington state and Florida. And in Indiana, the pro-Lugar super PAC's biggest donor was a secretive groups that doesn't disclose its donors.

June 25, 2012 | Voters are poised to go to the polls in Rangel race while Madoff ally J. Ezra Merkin, a big contributor to both Dems and Republicans, reaches a settlement agreement with New York's attorney general. And the Washington Post again relies on CRP data for investigation of how lawmakers rearranged their portfolios during the financial crisis.

June 19, 2012 | On Wednesday, the Center for Responsive Politics will host a conference at the National Press Club on the growing role of groups like these -- politically active non-profit organizations -- in elections.

June 14, 2012 | How many U.S. congressional representatives have invested recently in JPMorgan Chase? How many House members hold stock in Apple? And just how rich are your senators? The public got at least a glimpse at some of these answers this morning.

May 18, 2012 | A secretive, well-funded group provided $44 million in 2010 to a host of 501(c)(4) groups, many of which were among the most active in airing ads attacking Democrats in the midterm elections. The Center to Protect Patient Rights was the source of more than half the budget of the group American Future Fund, for example. The Center's role in funding the groups has not previously been reported.

May 10, 2012 | Expenditures by super PACs are on the verge of hitting $100 million, further proof that outside spending will far outstrip anything seen in previous election cycles. For a little perspective, consider that one super PAC, Restore Our Future, has already spent more -- $44.5 million -- than all outside groups combined had spent at this point in 2008.

April 4, 2012 | Yahoo recently sued Facebook over allegations of patent infringement. In this edition of Capital Rivals, we're pitting internet companies Yahoo and Facebook against each other to see who wins the money-in-politics game. It's a closer match-up than you might expect.

February 1, 2012 | Harold Simmons, long one of the GOP's most prolific donors, cemented his place on the speed-dial of fundraisers for conservative causes on Tuesday as several super PACs reported huge hauls from the Texas billionaire in their 2011 year-end campaign finance reports.
Simmons and his holding company, Contran, gave $8.5 million to three super PACs, two of which support candidates for the GOP presidential nomination, in the last quarter of the year.

January 19, 2012 | Kicking off his 1996 presidential campaign, Republican Phil Gramm told a crowd that he had "the most reliable friend you can have in politics -- ready money." We'll see how much friendship each of this year's White House hopefuls has collected on Jan. 31, when campaign finance disclosure reports from the presidential campaigns are due at the Federal Election Commission. While we're waiting, though, it's worth taking a look at the candidates' finances thus far in the race, and how this race compares to previous ones.

January 10, 2012 | Voters in New Hampshire are heading to the polls today for the first-in-the-nation presidential primary contest. Here are three money-in-politics facts about the contest in the Granite State to consider as these votes are cast.

December 27, 2011 | If President Barack Obama does end up with a fiscal advantage in 2012, he can thank, in part, the campaigns of Republicans Steve Forbes and George W. Bush for changing the rules of the game.

December 7, 2011 | The White House press shop will soon have a new addition: Jennifer Palmieri, who will be the deputy communications director. Despite her status as a former lobbyist, Palmieri is likely to find a welcome home working for a president who once vowed that lobbyists would not "find a job in my White House."

November 15, 2011 | These days, being a millionaire typically qualifies you as part of the one percent. But in Congress, it only makes you average. About 47 percent of Congress, or 250 current members of Congress, are millionaires, according to a new study by the Center for Responsive Politics of lawmakers' personal financial disclosure forms covering calendar year 2010.

November 8, 2011 | The bill sponsored by Rep. Erik Paulsen (R-Minn.) to repeal the tax on medical devices is gaining momentum and now has 218 co-sponsors, the minimum number of votes needed for it to pass, according to a Medical Technology caucus press release. The progress of the Protect Medical Innovation Act is partly a result of extensive lobbying efforts and political contributions of medical groups in favor of the bill.

October 19, 2011 | As the deadline for budget reforms by the supecommittee nears, the voices of possibly threatened sectors continue to grow louder. Various higher education groups have concentrated lobbying efforts toward the committee to keep the cuts off of students and universities, who rely on loans, grants and tax deductions for funding.

October 6, 2011 | Bank of America's decision to charge its debit card users $5 per month has drawn the ire first of customers, and now, politicians, including President Barack Obama, who collected about $395,000 from Bank of America employees during his 2008 presidential run -- although this year BofA employees have favored Republican Mitt Romney with their campaign cash.

October 5, 2011 | Starbuck's Chief Executive Officer Howard Schultz has announced that the company will begin accepting donations online and in stores of $5 or more to promote job creation, starting Nov. 1. The move comes after Schultz pledged to "withhold any further campaign contributions to the president and all members of Congress until a fair, bipartisan deal is reached that sets our nation on stronger long-term fiscal footing."

September 20, 2011 | President Barack Obama's new tax proposal, which has been dubbed the "Buffett rule," may include a change in how capital gains are taxed. According to the Center's research, 176 current members of the House and 48 sitting senators reported capital gains in 2009.

September 13, 2011 | This morning, the House Judiciary Committee's subcommittee on crime, terrorism and homeland security will hold a hearing on H.R. 822, the National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act of 2011, legislation that has been targeted by both gun control groups and organizations supportive of gun rights.

September 8, 2011 | As the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction meets for the first time today, the Center for Responsive Politics is unveiling new tools to help you investigate the money behind the 12 lawmakers on the new panel, which is tasked with cutting $1.5 trillion from the national debt.

September 7, 2011 | Late Tuesday night, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate attorney Mark Brzezinski to be the ambassador to Sweden. Brzezinksi would replace the current U.S. ambassador to Sweden, Matthew Barzun, who was one of Obama's biggest campaign bundlers during his 2008 presidential run.

September 2, 2011 | In the contest to fill the House seat of former Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.), Democratic candidate David Weprin is out-pacing his Republican opponent, Bob Turn, in terms of fund-raising.

August 31, 2011 | The co-chairs of the 12-member supercommittee charged with chopping $1.5 trillion from the nation's debt have chosen Mark Prater, the chief tax lawyer for the Senate Finance Committee, as the new group's staff director.

August 22, 2011 | Earlier this year, Republicans in both the House and Senate introduced resolutions urging approval of the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement. At since then, hundreds of companies, unions and trade associations have set their sites on the proposal.

August 17, 2011 | As the supercommittee meets to come up with a way to cut $1.5 trillion from the national debt, the decisions about which programs will be axed will be made by lawmakers, who, by and large, are far wealthier than the average American.

August 17, 2011 | Many special interest groups have invested heavily in supercommittee members on both sides of the aisle, including the securities and investment firms, the real estate industry and health professionals, according to new research by the Center for Responsive Politics.

August 17, 2011 | The 12 members of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction won't be legislating in a vacuum: They bring with them ties to particular industries and loyalties to particular issues.

August 11, 2011 | At least 325 individuals who donated $200 or more during the first six months of 2011 contributed to multiple presidential candidates, a new analysis by the Center for Responsive Politics shows.

August 10, 2011 | Late Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) announced the identities of his three picks for the "super committee" tasked with cutting the nation's debt and spending -- Sens. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Max Baucus (D-Mont.).

August 5, 2011 | It happened with typewriters, eight-tracks, VCRs and even flip-phones. Now advocates for the public financing of political campaigns fear that the system once used by most presidential candidates could also become irrelevant without an upgrade.

August 1, 2011 | In 2010, at least 14 veteran members of Congress personally owned a portion of the U.S. debt, according to a Center for Responsive Politics review of congressional personal financial disclosure reports.

July 18, 2011 | Between the 1990 election cycle and the 2010 election cycle, former Ohio AG Richard Cordray donated $71,080 to Democratic candidates and organizations, research from the Center for Responsive Politics indicates. His wife, Margaret, donated an additional $16,500 -- also all to Democrats.

July 14, 2011 | Behind the scenes, researchers here at the Center have implemented several changes in how campaign contributions get coded and classified into one of more than 100 different industries and special interest areas -- changes that affect not only the 2010 election cycle, but all data going back to our earliest data in the 1990 election cycle.

July 12, 2011 | Cliff Asness, the founding and managing partner of hedge fund AQR Capital, and Rutgers University professor Susan Feinberg may have irreconcilable differences about a $350 bottle of wine at Washington D.C.'s Bistro Bis, but they once found common ground in the campaign of President Barack Obama. Furthermore, during the 2010 election cycle, Cliff and his wife Laurel Asness also donated $7,666 to the leadership PAC of Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), with whom he was spotted sharing an expensive meal by Feinberg.

June 30, 2011 | Facing potentially stifling federal regulations that threaten to short-circuit their profits, AT&T, Sprint, Verizon and T-Mobile have each dumped millions of dollars into campaign contributions and federal lobbying expenditures, hoping that a barrage of political influence will subdue any unwanted restrictions.

June 22, 2011 | Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has given his blessing to a new big-money super PAC and authored a fund-raising missive on the group's behalf, OpenSecrets Blog has learned. Reid's direct appeal for his supporters to open their wallets for Majority PAC comes at a time of increased haziness about how explicitly lawmakers can raise money for big-money outside groups without running afoul of federal election laws.

June 18, 2011 | Oil company BP continues its slow climb out of political purgatory, as its political action committee on Friday reported donating thousands of dollars in May to federal-level politicians hailing from a variety of states.

June 15, 2011 | High-ranking congressmen made a concerted effort to financially distance themselves from BP in the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, either by reducing or altogether dumping their stock holdings, according to a Center for Responsive Politics analysis of lawmakers' personal financial disclosure documents released Tuesday.

June 15, 2011 | Many members of Congress have a vested interest -- beyond just their political careers -- in the performance of the same organizations that are supposed to be their watchdogs, a Center for Responsive Politics investigation indicates.

May 17, 2011 | During the past seven days, outside groups have shelled out more than $1.2 million on political messages in New York's 26th Congressional District, where a special election is being held on May 24, touting their preferred candidates and criticizing their opponents, according to research by the Center for Responsive Politics.

May 11, 2011 | With a competitive three-way special election just two weeks away in the New York 26th Congressional District, the big-spending conservative super PAC American Crossroads is stepping into the action. And the group's move prompted the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee to make a big media buy of its own, too.

April 29, 2011 | Unlike political committees or candidates for federal office, the Democratic Governors Association and Republican Governors Association both may receive unlimited amounts of money in their bids to support gubernatorial candidates across the nation. And raise cash they did.

April 4, 2011 | During the 2008 election, Barack Obama set fund-raising records and mobilized millions of individual donors. Obama was particularly successful in turning small-dollar donors into repeat givers, often via the Internet. His re-election campaign will be trying to emulate that success this go around.

April 1, 2011 | More than 50 individuals -- who combined to donate more than $29,500 since 2002 -- echoed a refrain of "none of your business" when prompted to provide information about their employees and occupations, according to an analysis of campaign finance filings by the Center for Responsive Politics. Here's a run-down of some of the most creative descriptions from these disgruntled donors.

March 30, 2011 | Earlier this week, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) urged his colleagues to support new legislation to close "corporate tax loopholes." As part of his pitch, Sanders highlighted the 10 "worst corporate income tax avoiders" -- many of which are among the biggest spenders when in comes to lobbying in the nation's capital, according to research by the Center for Responsive Politics.

March 3, 2011 | In late February, President Barack Obama announced 22 new members for his council on jobs and competitiveness, a group he established in January. The new appointees are also linked by a shared experience: donating to Democrats.

February 28, 2011 | In our second annual money-in-politics Oscars predictions last week, OpenSecrets Blog calculated which nominees would walk away with awards if political donations -- rather than the votes of the Academy -- determined their fate in several high-profile categories. Only one money-in-politics Oscar winner, however, walked away from the red carpet with a real Oscar.

February 25, 2011 | President Barack Obama today elevated Jeremy Bernard to the role of White House social secretary. In doing so, Obama named one of his top money men for the position. Bernard, along with his business partner and lover Rufus Gifford, helped raise tens of millions of dollars for Obama's 2008 presidential campaign through their consulting firm B&G Associates.

February 24, 2011 | The 2nd annual OpenSecrets.org Money-in-Politics Oscars returns today to bestow awards on Academy Awards nominees who best emblematize the cozy relationship between the cinematic and political elite.

February 17, 2011 | It comes seven years after the fact. But the Federal Election Commission this evening ordered the 2004 presidential campaign of Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) to pay up for what it says was Kucinich's improper use of public matching funds.

February 1, 2011 | The 2012 Democratic National Convention will convene in Charlotte, N.C., a city already bursting with political love for President Barack Obama: Its residents favored Obama with their campaign cash during his 2008 presidential bid and its voters helped the Democratic Obama edge out Republican John McCain to win the state's 15 Electoral College votes.

January 6, 2011 | President Barack Obama joked today that his new chief of staff, William Daley, has a "smidgen of awareness of how our system of government and politics works" and praised Daley, saying, "few Americans can boast the breadth of experience that Bill brings to this job." Obama is right: few Americans have Daley's political and corporate clout. And you can find details of Daley's past and present in OpenSecrets.org's revolving door database.

December 9, 2010 | While headlines touted Space Exploration Technologies' unmanned space journey as a giant leap away from large governments dominating the heavens -- only the governments of the United States, China, Russia, Japan, India and the European Union previously accomplished such a feat -- the company is hardly shielding itself from politics.

December 2, 2010 | In the closing stretch of the 2010 midterm elections, American Crossroads raised a staggering $3.8 million, according to a Center for Responsive Politics review of the group's "post-general" campaign finance report, which was filed with the Federal Election Commission Thursday. Since its founding in March, American Crossroads has now raised $28 million.

November 24, 2010 | The political action committee of L-3 Communications -- one of the two defense contractors behind the full-body scanning machines now used in more than 60 U.S. airports -- has doled out more political cash this election cycle than at any other time, the Center for Responsive Politics has found.

November 23, 2010 | A handful of federal lawmakers are invested in one of the companies behind the controversial full-body scanning machines now in more than 60 U.S. airports. The individual investments are worth thousands, and in some cases tens or hundreds of thousands, of dollars.

November 17, 2010 | Despite a stubbornly sour national economy congressional members' personal wealth collectively increased by more than 16 percent between 2008 and 2009, according to a new study by the Center for Responsive Politics of federal financial disclosures released earlier this year.

October 28, 2010 | Special interests have today passed a major milepost in influencing U.S. political elections. Groups have thrown more money into the 2010 midterm elections than they did during the 2004 election cycle -- when, on top of congressional contests, Republican President George W. Bush and Democrat John Kerry battled for the presidency.

October 27, 2010 | The Illinois-based company that manufactured the dispersants used by BP after the Deepwater Horizon spill in the Gulf of Mexico spent exponentially more on federal lobbying in the disaster's wake than it has historically.

October 21, 2010 | In just seven months, American Crossroads, the highest profile conservative "Super PAC," has raised more than $24.17 million* in the hopes of tilting the November midterm elections in favor of the Republican Party.

September 30, 2010 | This fall, Republicans need a net gain of 39 seats to win control of the U.S. House of Representatives. Some of the seats most likely to flip from the Democratic column to Republican control stem from the retirements of sitting Democratic incumbents.
And when it comes to competing for these open seats, Republicans own a financial advantage.

September 28, 2010 | Heading into the final stretch of the 2010 election, six House incumbents -- five Democrats and one Republican -- have less money left in their campaign coffers than their best-funded challengers, according to a Center for Responsive Politics review of the campaign finance reports filed with the Federal Election Commission.

September 28, 2010 | Incumbency is a monumental obstacle to overcome for any political challenger. But 11 congressional challengers -- nine Republicans and two Democrats -- have managed to raise more money than their incumbent rivals, a Center for Responsive Politics analysis found.

September 3, 2010 | David L. Mejias, a domestic violence lawyer and former Democratic congressional candidate who's now running for a New York State Senate seat, faces menacing, stalking and reckless endangerment charges stemming from an incident Thursday with an ex-girlfriend. Mejias, who says he's innocent, also has a history of contributing to prominent Democrats in Congress.

August 27, 2010 | Want to know which sitting member of Congress has received the most money from the oil and gas industry? Which lawmaker has received the most from environmentalists? The alternative energy industry? Now you can find that information in one centralized location on OpenSecrets.org -- presented with sort-able and down-loadable options for your convenience.

August 27, 2010 | Own stocks in oil or gas companies? If you're a member of Congress, the odds are about one-in-five that the answer is yes. Oil and gas industry holdings are some of the most popular investments among lawmakers and their spouses, according to research by the Center for Responsive Politics.

August 25, 2010 | In 1998, the entire alternative energy industry barely even registered as a political player in Washington, spending a mere $2.4 million on lobbying the federal government. Meanwhile, in the same year, the oil and gas, electric utilities and mining industries spent a combined $142 million advancing their own legislative interests. That landscape, however, has changed considerably.

August 23, 2010 | With significant majorities in Congress, a president promising action and favorable public opinion all on their side, many environmentalists believed their political stars had properly – and finally – aligned. Yet even as these groups seemed poised to capitalize on favorable trends, moneyed opponents girded for a fight with more financial capital than ever before.

August 19, 2010 | American Crossroads, which some have dubbed the "shadow Republican National Committee," is at the vanguard of political entities that are taking advantage of the new campaign finance landscape in the wake of January's Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission ruling that lifted restrictions on corporate cash in political advertisements.

July 29, 2010 | While some organizations dramatically reduced their investments in federal lobbying during this year's second quarter, others paid out more in fees to lobbyists than during any other quarter since President Barack Obama took office in January 2009, according to a Center for Responsive Politics review of reports filed with the U.S. Senate and U.S. House last week.

July 22, 2010 | Eight House incumbents -- six Democrats and two Republicans -- have less money left in their campaign coffers at the end of June than their best-funded challengers, according to a Center for Responsive Politics review of the campaign finance data reported last week to the Federal Election Commission.

July 19, 2010 | Carte Goodwin, the 36-year-old attorney and former gubernatorial aide nominated by Democratic West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin to temporarily fill the seat of the late Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.), may be a rising political star, but he hasn't left a long trail of federal-level campaign contributions in his wake.

July 6, 2010 | Not only does OpenSecrets.org keep track of the individual companies and organizations lobbying the federal government, but we also keep track of the lobbying numbers of entire industries. Some of the top industries lobbying congress include oil and gas, electric utilities, and the education industries.

June 16, 2010 | At least seven members of Congress reported holding a minimum of $15,000 in BP stock at the end of 2009, according to a preliminary analysis of personal financial disclosure reports by the Center for Responsive Politics.

May 19, 2010 | Massive campaign war chests and establishment endorsements were not enough to be victorious in some of the country's most contested Senate primaries Tuesday night. One sitting Senator was defeated and another is heading to a run-off in three weeks, as candidates worked to distance themselves from Washington and position themselves as crusaders against special interests in charged anti-incumbent environments.

May 13, 2010 | Votes are already being cast in the free-for-all special election in Hawaii's 1st Congressional District, and a Republican candidate has emerged with the most cash on hand in the campaign's final stretch. Republican Charles Djou, a city council member in Honolulu, has nearly $170,000 more in the bank than the most well-financed Democratic candidate.

May 10, 2010 | The move to promote Solicitor General Elena Kagan to the U.S. Supreme Court comes at a time when the Obama administration is criticizing the court's January ruling in the high-profile campaign finance case Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. Kagan herself led the government's defense in that case.

April 22, 2010 | REVOLVERS, BEWARE: The consumer advocacy group Public Citizen is calling on retiring members of Congress to pledge to not immediately become lobbyists after leaving their current positions. The group asked 47 lawmakers to sign a promise, but so far, not a one has made the commitment.

April 21, 2010 | As President Barack Obama works with the Democratic Congress to advance his ambitious legislative priorities, lobbying efforts by special interest groups continue unabated. Lobbying reports for the first three months of 2010 were due to the Clerk of the House and Secretary of the Senate by midnight last night, and a preliminary Center for Responsive Politics analysis of these reports show many major players continuing to shell out big dollars on their lobbying operations.

April 15, 2010 | The White House's top ethics lawyer, Norman Eisen, is reportedly being floated for consideration as the president's top diplomat in the Czech Republic. If Eisen is selected, he would join many of President Barack Obama's prior ambassador picks in having helped raise significant sums of campaign cash for the president and other Democrats.

March 30, 2010 | In 1998, the entire alternative energy industry barely even registered as a political player in Washington, spending a mere $2.4 million on lobbying the federal government. Meanwhile, in the same year, the oil and gas, electric utilities and mining industries spent a combined $142 million advancing their own legislative interests. That landscape, however, has changed considerably.

March 4, 2010 | The Republican National Committee is planning to raise money during 2010 midterm elections by capitalizing on 'fear' of President Barack Obama and a promise to 'save the country from trending toward socialism.'

March 2, 2010 | U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) spent months railing against the Federal Reserve for what he considered its failure to protect consumers from abusive financial institutions. Dodd, chairman of the Senate Banking Committee who isn't seeking re-election, now appears primed to compromise on his standing desire to create an independent "Consumer Financial Protection Agency" designed to protect consumer interests.

February 3, 2010 | With the campaign finance world still trying to sort out the aftermath of Citizens United v. FEC, Marc Ambinder over at The Atlantic makes an interesting observation about the potential for corporate spending to surpass that of political parties.

January 27, 2010 | The past year proved to be a legislative whirlwind in Washington, with a new administration, and expanded Democratic majorities in Congress, tackling an ambitious legislative agenda against the backdrop of two wars and an economic meltdown. Twelve months later, the story is much the same.

January 16, 2010 | Democrat Barack Obama and Republican Ron Paul made waves during the 2008 presidential election for the large sums they raised from people making small contributions of $200 or less. On Thursday, four prominent campaign finance reform advocates said fostering this small-donor enthusiasm was vital to the country's political health.

December 3, 2009 | Insurance giant AIG's political clout is waning as fast as its finances. Since its near-collapse and government bailout last fall, AIG disbanded its lobbying team. It hasn't donated a dollar from its political action committee this year. Furthermore, contributions from individual AIG employees since January are merely a sliver of what they've been in previous cycles -- although a few notable politicians retain financial or political ties to the embattled company. Among these lawmakers is Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), the chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, who pledged to return contributions from AIG employees who got post-bailout bonuses but has nonetheless retained tens of thousands of dollars from them given before the bailout.

November 30, 2009 | Legislation aimed at regulating the securities and investment industry is as complex as the industry itself. But the trade groups representing these interests all seem to have at least one thing in common: they fear additional government regulation will damage their business, which especially concerns them given the ailing economy.

November 19, 2009 | The various companies and trade groups within the finance and credit industry have contributed about $62.4 million to federal candidates, committees and leadership PACs since 1989, with 62 percent of that sum going to Republicans. In the 2008 election cycle, however, the employees and political action committees of these organizations directed a majority of their money to Democrats for the first time since the 1990 election.

November 18, 2009 | Risk and uncertainty are as certain as death and taxes. So, to share the burden of risk and hedge against the full financial liability, companies have long offered consumers a variety of insurance products. Facing the prospect of new regulation, the insurance industry is on pace to break a record $154 million it spent on federal lobbying efforts last year. During the first nine months of this year, insurers spent $122 million and hired 953 lobbyists.

November 17, 2009 | Sure, our "Crossing Wall Street" series this week is going to be comprehensive, answering your questions about which financial industries are spending big bucks to influence the outcome of financial regulation legislation. But you might want to do some snooping around of your own. So we're providing the tools you need to do so.

November 16, 2009 | Congress often acts as a type of bank for bankers themselves -- a place executives can direct their cash, perhaps hoping to collect interest in the form of a legislative favor. The interest rate on that premium appears to be low these days, however, as commercial banks could face a sweeping regulatory overhaul in the coming months.

November 9, 2009 | Attorney Roxanne Conlin today announced her intention to run for the U.S. Senate seat held by Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), providing the veteran lawmaker with some notable and potentially well-financed competition. With a strong pedigree in Iowa politics, she brings supporters with deep pockets, and the ability to draw on her own personal wealth. A CRP analysis shows that Conlin, and her husband, James, have contributed nearly $360,000 to federal candidates and committees over the past 20 years.

November 6, 2009 | A well-heeled Democratic fund-raiser is calling on donors to stop the "gay ATM" to politicians who don't fully support equality for gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people. Once named the most powerful gay man in America by Newsweek, David Mixner is angered by the hands-off approach of President Barack Obama and the Democratic National Committee concerning a failed ballot measure in Maine that would have allowed same-sex couples to marry. He says he's also troubled by Obama not quickly fulfilling his campaign promises regarding rights for gays and lesbians.

November 4, 2009 | Even members of Congress – many among the country's richest people -- aren't impervious to the nation's economic recession. Current congressional members' median wealth uncharacteristically dropped nearly 5 percent in 2008 when compared to the prior year, a Center for Responsive Politics analysis of federal personal financial disclosure reports indicates.

October 28, 2009 | The Federal Communications Commission's decision last week to begin developing open Internet regulation has left a few big-time political donors and lobbying forces in the telecom industry wondering whether their message got lost in transmission.

October 21, 2009 | Democratic incumbents in the U.S. House of Representatives that their party views as potentially vulnerable raised an average of $842,400 since January, while Republican incumbents in the House viewed as potentially threatened raised an average of $597,300, the Center for Responsive Politics has found. Furthermore, these Democratic lawmakers ended the third quarter with an average of $646,000 in cash on hand, while these Republican congressmen ended the quarter with an average of $434,300.

October 20, 2009 | Lobbyist. Lawyer. Democratic donor. Wife of a presidential superdelegate. To these titles, Anne Slaughter Andrew will soon add the title ambassador. On Thursday night, President Barack Obama tapped Andrew, who along with her husband has given about $88,000 to federal Democratic candidates and committees over the past twenty years, to represent U.S. interests in Costa Rica.

October 15, 2009 | Republican members of the House last week attempted to oust Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) from his powerful chairmanship of the House Ways & Means Committee for the duration of a House Ethics Committee investigation into alleged ethical misconduct surrounding his real estate investments and dubious personal financial disclosure reports. And although the effort failed and Rangel can sit tight for now, signs that he's sustained political damage are emerging.

October 13, 2009 | The Senate Finance Committee today passed its version of comprehensive health care reform after weeks of marking up the bill. Sen. Olympia Snowe of Washington was the only Republican to vote against the measure. She has also collected less money than all other GOP members of the committee from the health sector, CRP has found.

October 6, 2009 | As the Senate Finance Committee continues to hash out the final version of its health care reform legislation, medical-device makers are lobbying against $40 billion in fees the industry will have to pay over the next 10 years if the bill remains as is.

October 5, 2009 | Apple reversed course over the weekend and approved an iPhone app that uses CRP data that the company called "politically charged." Apple itself is not apolitical -- it spends cash on lobbying and its employees contribute money to lawmakers.

October 1, 2009 | The fact that the next presidential election isn't until 2012 hasn't deterred lesser-known candidates from planning vigorously, hoping valiantly and mulling over how to increase their name recognition when they have little name recognition in the first place to attract cash. They join a host of others who still technically have an active presidential fundraising committee.

October 1, 2009 | A new collaborative investigation between the Sunlight Foundation and Center for Responsive Politics shows that since January 2007, more than 500 individual lobbyists donated roughly $2.8 million to 61 members of Congress who took money from at least 10 lobbyists and also received money from their clients' PACs or employees. Among the recipients were 11 senators who sit on the Senate Finance Committee.

September 29, 2009 | Lawmakers who sided with pharmaceutical companies and insurance companies today when they voted against a government-sponsored health insurance option have received more money, on average, from these industries than those who supported the measures.

September 29, 2009 | PROGRESSIVES PRESSURE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE MEMBERS: The Senate Finance Committee resumes its work today marking up its health care reform legislative proposal. At the same time, the Progressive Change Campaign Committee and Democracy for America have launched a new ad against Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.), encouraging him to support a public health insurance option.

September 24, 2009 | The U.S. Senate vacancy created by the death of liberal lion Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) is prompting another trip through the revolving door of political influence for longtime Kennedy ally Paul G. Kirk, Jr. Kirk was an aide to Kennedy from 1969 until 1977. He subsequently went on to join the law firm Sullivan & Worcester, where he has worked as a partner and lobbyist. Since 1989, he and his wife have also given $65,325 to Democratic candidates and committees.

September 15, 2009 | A number of lawmakers have requested that insurers disclose their financial records, including details on executive pay and entertainment expenditures. Members of three of the committees to receive this information have also collected millions from these companies for their campaigns.

September 15, 2009 | THE RICHER AND POORER: Roll Call has released their annual 50 Richest Members of Congress list, finding that members returning from last year lost 10 percent of their wealth during 2008. Their top 50 are worth almost $171 million less than the previous batch.

September 8, 2009 | When President Barack Obama gives his much-anticipated speech about health care Wednesday night before a joint session of Congress, he won't likely address medical malpractice reform, much to the chagrin of the country's doctors. Given that health professionals are the second largest contributor this election cycle to candidates and party committees, they might feel slighted by the president's omission.

August 26, 2009 | Embattled political financier Hassan Nemazee, who faces decades in prison after federal authorities arrested him for allegedly attempting to secure a fradulent loan from Citigroup, has donated money to 75 federal political candidates, a Center for Responsive Politics analysis indicates.

August 7, 2009 | While some lawmakers are grappling with the forged letters they received from embattled lobbying firm Bonner and Associates this summer, others might be considering their financial ties to the firm.

August 7, 2009 | President Barack Obama has picked three big bundlers and donors to fill diplomatic posts to Spain, Norway and the European Union. The three new ambassadors -- Alan Solomont, Barry White and William Kennard -- bundled more than $1 million combined toward Obama's election efforts, and have contributed nearly $2 million to federal candidates since 1989.

July 21, 2009 | Since Democrats swept into congressional power in the 2006 midterm elections, many industries -- including some that traditionally back Republicans -- have either begun to contribute to both parties equally or favor Democrats outright. The chief executive officer of JPMorgan Chase, however, never had to make any shift. Jamie Dimon happens to be a long-time man of the left.

July 21, 2009 | House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and first-term Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.) seem like natural allies. Both represent staunchly liberal congressional districts and support creating a public health insurance option. Both are multimillionaires and rank among the wealthiest current members of Congress. Yet the two Democrats disagree over how to fund the health care reform legislation coursing through Congress.

July 17, 2009 | President Barack Obama has tapped 19 ambassadors to represent the United States in international organizations or act as the top statesman in issue-based arenas. Seventeen of these have contributed about $323,900 to federal candidates and committees since 1989.

July 10, 2009 | At least one member of Congress -- Sen. Herb Kohl (D-Wis.) -- this week weighed in on whether telecom companies are violating anti-trust laws. Kohl sent a letter to various agencies asking them to investigate whether big wireless companies are engaged in anti-competitive practices. Unlike many other lawmakers, however, Kohl, does not rely on telecoms to fill his campaign coffers.

July 9, 2009 | Over the past three weeks, Capital Eye has contacted members of five Capitol Hill committees responsible for drafting health care reform legislation this summer. Here are their responses (and non-responses) and the money they're collecting from various industries.

July 9, 2009 | Interest groups have filled lawmakers' campaign coffers with cash, and spent millions on lobbyists to promote their positions. So it's not entirely surprising that some lawmakers can't make up their minds on health care reform. Here are a handful of examples of members of the Senate, who have tried to position themselves on multiple sides of the health care debate.

July 9, 2009 | As members of Congress assess the proper dose of reform for the nation's health care system, many of them have likewise invested hundreds of thousands of dollars of their personal funds into the very companies whose financial fortunes depend on what measures become law.

July 1, 2009 | President Obama's fifth consecutive week of naming new ambassadors brought with it five people with long histories of donating campaign cash, including two donors who also bundled more than half a million dollars each for the president's campaign war chest.

June 25, 2009 | ABC employees have favored Obama with their campaign cash. The big caveat? These sums are not just from the news division, and employees of the network's entertainment divisions fueled such giving.

June 25, 2009 | Here's a cool tool that brings together data from various parts of OpenSecrets.org to show how much money each current lawmaker has raised from various health-related industries and the health sector overall since 1989 (including President Obama's haul).

June 11, 2009 | For some lawmakers it is never too early to start greasing the money machine. Capital Eye takes a look at some of the new and re-elected senators who are already raising big bucks, even though they won't face another election for six years.

June 10, 2009 | Although the economy didn't show many signs of improvement in the first few months of 2009, Democrats were benefiting more from Wall Street than they had in any previous cycle, pulling in 58 percent of all contributions that the finance, insurance and real estate sector gave between January and March.

May 7, 2009 | Members of the Global Climate Coalition, which is now under fire for withholding important information from the public about global warming, have continued to spend millions of dollars to influence federal officeholders to protect their interests since the coalition disbanded in 2002. This includes $84.5 million the members spent on lobbying just this year.

May 5, 2009 | A Senate Commerce subcommittee hearing tomorrow will take a look at the future of newspapers and what, if anything, Congress can do to help the struggling industry. But journalists are at a disadvantage compared to other industries that can give campaign contributions and aren't publicly scrutinizing the lawmakers.

April 14, 2009 | Republican Norm Coleman has 10 days to appeal the decision of the recount trial to the Minnesota Supreme Court. If he does appeal, Coleman will come before several individuals who have made partisan contributions during their careers before joining the court.

March 26, 2009 | Members of a Senate Committee that today held the first part of a hearing to examine whether health insurance companies are failing to fully pay reimbursements to policyholders haven't had any trouble themselves collecting money from these companies. In total, health insurance companies' PACs and employees have given members of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation $3.3 million since the 1990 election cycle.

March 16, 2009 | As long as everyone's talking today about AIG's payouts to its executives and foreign banks, let's remember the payouts AIG has made over the years to politicians. In the last 20 years American International Group (AIG) has contributed more than $9 million to federal candidates and parties through PAC and individual contributions.

February 26, 2009 | Capital Eye's Power Player series continues this week with a look at Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. Boxer's top donors include environmentalists, women's rights groups and the entertainment industry.

February 18, 2009 | As the story behind the embattled investment company Stanford Financial Group develops, we thought we'd take an even closer look at the seeds the company may have tried to plant in Washington via campaign contributions. When looking at ALL lawmakers to collect money from the company's PAC and employees (not just members of the current Congress), some additional, important names appear at the top of the recipient list.

February 17, 2009 | Money manager Robert Allen Stanford now has two things in common with embattled investment manager Bernard Madoff: both have come under scrutiny for allegedly defrauding their investors, and both have given significant funds to politicians. Between its PAC and its employees, Stanford Financial Group has given $2.4 million to federal candidates, parties and committees since 2000.

February 12, 2009 | The close ties between Rep. John Murtha and a Washington lobbying firm raided by the FBI have put the powerful Pennsylvania Democrat under greater scrutiny. The lobbyists at PMA Group have been Murtha's fifth most generous campaign donor over time, but he is just one of 284 members of the 111th Congress who have collected money from the firm, which specializes in securing federal earmarks for its clients. In total, PMA Group's employees and its political action committee have given current members of Congress $3.4 million since 1989.

January 28, 2009 | New members of Congress are worth $1 million more than the average incumbent, CRP has found after analyzing the lawmakers' personal financial disclosure reports. As they make decisions about the economy, freshmen and incumbents are heavily invested in the struggling financial sector.

January 26, 2009 | Although it's unclear to what extent businessman Raghuveer Nayak was involved in Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's alleged scheme to sell President Obama's Senate seat, what is clear is Nayak's commitment to funding the campaigns of the governor, the new president, the new vice president and others in Congress and the administration.

November 26, 2008 | Ellen Moran, who is Barack Obama's pick for White House communications director, will be leaving her post as head of a giant among political action committees: EMILY's List. The PAC, which primarily bundles money for women running for federal office who support abortion rights, has given away at least $19.7 million since 1989, making it one of the 100 top all-time donors.

October 20, 2008 | In one single month, Barack Obama raised nearly half of what John Kerry raised for his presidential bid in the entire 2004 election cycle. Over the weekend Obama's campaign announced he raised $150 million in September alone, shattering the $66 million single-month record (also his own) and re-shaping the perception of the fundraising potential for a presidential candidate in the Internet age.

September 29, 2008 | Barack Obama defended his decision not to accept public financing by arguing that running a campaign for the White House based on small contributions accomplishes what the public financing system aims to do but falls short of doing: curb the influence of outside interest groups. In many congressional races, the issue of who's backing the candidate--wealthy donors or everyone else--is finding its way into debates over the best way to fix the economy and whether campaign contributions and lobbying by the financial sector had anything to do with today's economic crisis. Capital Eye takes a closer look at some of these races.

September 23, 2008 | The last time Congress seriously debated how to regulate the financial industry, the result was legislation that allowed the nation's largest banks to get even larger and take risks that had been prohibited since the Great Depression. A look back at that debate, which was over the 1999 Financial Services Modernization Act, reveals that campaign contributions may have influenced the votes of politicians who, a decade later, are now grappling with the implosion of the giant banks they helped to foster.

September 17, 2008 | The Federal Reserve announced today that it's coming to the rescue of American International Group (AIG) to the tune of $85 billion. The nation's largest insurer, which asked the Fed for emergency funding in the midst of financial hardships, hasn't had trouble over the years giving money to lawmakers, however. AIG is on CRP's Heavy Hitters list that profiles the 100 all-time contributors to federal candidates and committees.

September 15, 2008 | Wall Street's grim news has plenty of people worried about their pocketbooks. Lawmakers are among them, not only concerned with how to boost the economy but with their own personal finances tied to companies that are struggling. The richest members of Congress seem to be the most invested in the companies at the center of the Wall Street shake-up.

September 12, 2008 | Uncle Sam bailed out Freddie Mac and the company's twin sister, Fannie Mae, this week, and the next in line in the Wall Street family to get a helping hand might just be Lehman Brothers. Executives at the struggling investment bank are looking to sell the company with assistance from the government--and fast--as its stock plunges. Although the government isn't expected to completely bail out Lehman Brothers, the fourth-largest U.S. investment bank, the company has built a strong financial relationship with politicians over the years and coincidentally ranks fourth in the largest contributors in the race for the White House.

September 11, 2008 | When the federal government announced two months ago that it would be seizing mortgage buyers Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, CRP looked at how much money members of Congress had collected since 1989 from the companies. On Sunday the government proceeded with the takeover and we've returned to our data to bring you the updates, this time providing a list of all 354 lawmakers who have gotten money from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (in July we posted the top 25).

September 4, 2008 | Republicans descended on the Midwest for their convention this week, promoting John McCain's credentials, introducing vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin and hoping to win the support of the region's voters come November. If money determined the winner in each state, McCain would take Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Kansas, North Dakota, Nebraska and South Dakota. He wouldn't, however, manage to win Minnesota, which hosted the Republican National Convention this week, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois or Missouri.

August 28, 2008 | Republicans have their compasses set toward the North Star State, where they will be convening next week for their national convention. Although Minnesota residents haven't favored a Republican president since 1972, the last two presidential elections have been close, and John McCain and Barack Obama are neck-and-neck in fundraising from the state (Obama has raised a mere $233,000 more, out of $3.7 million raised by the two contenders), indicating that McCain might not have as much to overcome here as previous Republicans have.

August 26, 2008 | While school was out, college professors and other educators were putting money into Barack Obama's presidential campaign, according to a new analysis of the Democratic nominee's summer fundraising. Educators contributed at least $2.3 million to his campaign in June and July, surpassed only by lawyers, who make up Obama's top-giving industry since the campaign's start, and retirees.

August 20, 2008 | In some ways, it's advantageous for John McCain to point out the ways he differs with the current president. But, financially, McCain's differences with President Bush haven't entirely helped him. Bloomberg used data from CRP recently to analyze the industries that played a pivotal role in financing Bush's re-election race in 2004 but that are backing Barack Obama this time around.

August 20, 2008 | The Democratic convention will get underway next week in a state that has gone from red to a light shade of purple in the last few years. The changes are afoot across the board--in the statehouse with a Democrat-controlled legislature and Democratic governor, in the congressional battles that are transforming the "Centennial State" into a bellwether state and in the money Colorado residents are spending to send their candidates of choice to Capitol Hill and the White House.

August 19, 2008 | John McCain seems to be getting a taste of his own medicine. For years the Arizona senator has opposed measures that would benefit major pharmaceutical manufacturers, and now the industry, which traditionally supports Republican candidates for president, is injecting Barack Obama's campaign with cash instead. Bloomberg today used data from the Center for Responsive Politics to analyze the industry's apparent shift in this presidential race.

August 14, 2008 | Democrat Barack Obama has received nearly six times as much money from troops deployed overseas at the time of their contributions than has Republican John McCain, and the fiercely anti-war Ron Paul, though he suspended his campaign for the Republican nomination months ago, has received more than four times McCain's haul.

August 7, 2008 | Coal and nuclear power are the biggest sources of electricity in the U.S., accounting for roughly 70 percent of the nation's electricity. While producers of both sources believe that the country needs a well-balanced fuel portfolio, both industries are seeking an advantage by spending their fair share on campaign contributions and lobbying this election cycle, reminding those in Congress of their integral role in keeping the lights on.

July 31, 2008 | While this year's own battle over offshore drilling for oil has largely been a skirmish between the deep-pocketed oil and gas industry and grassroots environmentalists, senators along the coast in particular have to pay attention to an additional industry that's a player on Capitol Hill: tourism.

July 31, 2008 | Put John McCain's name into Google, and you'll see millions of hits that the Republican nominee will likely never see himself. He won't be spending any money on a Blackberry anytime soon, but that doesn't mean technology companies aren't spending any money on him.

July 25, 2008 | T. Boone Pickens was born into oil. With a father who worked as an oil and mineral rights leaser and a mother who rationed gasoline during World War II, it's hardly a surprise that Pickens became an oilman himself. But this CEO of energy hedge fund BP Capital Management is now turning to wind power instead, despite his longtime support--both spoken and financial--for Republican candidates, including fellow Texas oilman George W. Bush.

July 17, 2008 | Like a gas tank hungry for cheap fuel, Americans are yearning for an energy policy from their next president. But various industries and interests, from oil companies to agriculture and environmental groups, also have a serious stake in the next president's energy policy, and are showing it with campaign contributions and lobbying efforts.

July 16, 2008 | The federal government recently announced that it will come to the rescue of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, two embattled mortgage buyers that for years have pursued a lobbying strategy to get lawmakers on their side. Both companies have poured money into lobbying and campaign contributions to federal candidates, parties and committees as a general tactic, but they've also directed those contributions strategically.

July 10, 2008 | If there's one dreaded stop on every traveler's roadmap these days, it's the gas station. With the cost of fuel topping $4 a gallon this summer for the first time ever, there are a lot of questions, but not many clear-cut answers. Capital Eye's reporters dropped in on service stations in the D.C. area to find out where consumers are placing the blame.

July 3, 2008 | Considering how Americans celebrate their independence and patriotism with fireworks and sparklers, it's no surprise that our country's politicians often buy fireworks for events on the campaign trail. This is hardly a one-way street, however, as the fireworks industry invests in lawmakers through campaign contributions and lobbying efforts, as well.

July 1, 2008 | It appears that being the candidate of change doesn't necessarily mean appealing to a new set of donors. New York Times columnist David Brooks used extensive data from the Center for Responsive Politics today to argue that Barack Obama's fundraising base looks a whole lot like those of Democrats past and present.

June 26, 2008 | The marriage vow "for richer or poorer" is more than a promise between two people when one of those people is a member of Congress. When lawmakers and their spouses utter those words, they're agreeing to reveal to the world the scope of how rich or poor they may be.

May 15, 2008 | Both Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain want full control over how negative their messages do or don't get in the general election, and they're letting their donors know it.

May 12, 2008 | Republican John McCain is no George W. Bush, at least not in the view of some of the industries that gave generously to the president's 2004 re-election campaign. Last week Bloomberg's Jonathan Salant used data from CRP to look at how the securities and investment industry, construction sector, pharmaceutical manufacturers and energy companies are giving a greater amount of their money to Democratic candidates this cycle, despite being some of Bush's biggest backers in 2004.

April 18, 2008 | When environmentalists, lobbyists and eco-friendly citizens come a-knockin' on lawmakers' office doors on Earth Day next week, Democrats (and some Republicans) will detail their legislation that directs taxes collected from the oil and gas industry towards renewable energy initiatives. What they probably won't mention is that lawmakers themselves aren't taking a risk on them with their own money.

April 18, 2008 | In the midst of a busy election year, the Federal Election Commission has lacked a quorum since January to issue regulations, advisory opinions or even dole out public funds to presidential candidates. This week things went from bad to worse.

April 10, 2008 | Capital Eye chatted this week with Paul Ryan, program director for the FEC watchdog group Campaign Legal Center, about how a compliance fund works, why a candidate who accepts public funding needs one and what this means for campaign contributors.

April 3, 2008 | From aircraft and weapons manufacturers to producers of medical supplies and soft drinks, the investment portfolios of more than a quarter of Congress—and of countless constituents—include holdings in companies paid billions of dollars each month to support America's military in Iraq and elsewhere.

March 20, 2008 | Since Sunshine Week 2007, a few rays of sunlight have lit up Congress and the Bush administration in the form of ethics legislation and other bills mandating fuller disclosure. As these changes are implemented, the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics is examining their effects on the public's ability to know what's going on in campaign finance, lobbying and other areas related to money and politics.

January 19, 2008 | John Kerry’s endorsement of <a href=”http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/summary.asp?id=N00009638&cycle=2008″>Barack Obama</a> comes with more perks than a mere good word from the Massachusetts senator–Obama has access to Kerry’s e-mail list, which brought in about $11 million for Democratic candidates in 2006 and could result in millions for Obama. “Kerry’s e-mail list is considered to be the one of the…

January 5, 2008 | Immediately after Barack Obama won the Iowa caucuses last week, his campaign was calling his opponents' top donors in hopes that they'd back him. The winners of the Iowa caucuses have traditionally seen a boost in the money they bring in, according to the Washington Post.

September 20, 2007 | Most donors in foreign countries appear to work in private industry, not in foreign service or the military, as first reported. The story has been updated to reflect this finding.)As globalization moves American executives to financial metropolises around the world and the Internet allows for easier connection among politically minded U.S. expatriates, the 2008 presidential candidates are expanding their fundraising efforts beyond the United States's borders.

March 15, 2007 | Who's funding your elected representatives' campaigns, and how is that money being spent? What public policies are lobbyists trying to influence? It's your right to know, so speak up—here's how.

March 1, 2007 | WASHINGTON—In response to a 2004 complaint by a coalition of nonpartisan watchdog groups that included the Center for Responsive Politics, the Federal Election Commission has announced that Progress for America Voter Fund will pay a fine of $750,000, or about 2 percent of the illegal soft money it raised to influence the ’04 presidential election.…

January 23, 2007 | Members of Congress who voted against raising taxes for Big Oil received more in contributions from the industry. By Lindsay Renick Mayer January 23, 2007 | (Correction 11/7/2007: This story has been corrected to reflect Kay Bailey Hutchison’s position as a U.S. senator.) When the House of Representatives voted last week to raise taxes on…

January 22, 2007 | Global warming, the Iraq war and balancing the budget are likely to be among the issues the president addresses. By Lindsay Renick Mayer January 22, 2007 | When President Bush takes the podium on Tuesday night to deliver his annual address, he will do so before a nation that is far less supportive of his…

December 13, 2006 | WASHINGTON—In response to a 2004 complaint by a coalition of nonpartisan watchdog groups that included the Center for Responsive Politics, the Federal Election Commission announced today that Swift Boat Veterans for Truth will pay a fine of under $300,000 and disband the 527 organization that expressly (and illegally) advocated for the defeat of Sen. John…

December 5, 2006 | In 2008, presidential candidates will have to raise record sums, so talking now to donors—not just voters—is crucial. By Lindsay Renick Mayer December 05, 2006 | (Updated to incorporate 2004 inflation-adjusted grants and spending limits) As the 2006 midterm election moves from the headlines to the history books, the focus has already shifted to 2008…

July 24, 2006 | Profiles of the five metro areas vying to host—and finance—the multi-day gatherings that open the home stretch of the race for the White House. By Neil Tambe July 24, 2006 | (1/11/07 UPDATE: The Democrats have chosen Denver to be the site of their 2008 convention. The Republicans announced in September 2006 that they will…

May 30, 2006 | Goldman Sachs CEO Hank Paulson has contributed generously to Republicans—more than outgoing secretary John Snow. Paulson’s wife and employees favor Democrats, however. By Massie Ritsch and Neil Tambe May 30, 2006 | In nominating Goldman Sachs CEO Hank Paulson to be the next Secretary of the Treasury, President Bush tapped a major Republican donor who…

March 30, 2006 | New analysis tallies contributions and lobbying by the disgraced lobbyist’s full client list. How much of the money, as Sen. Frist said, is ‘tainted’? ____________________ When Jack Abramoff pleaded guilty in January to corruption charges, politicians rushed to dump contributions they had received from the high-flying lobbyist and the Indian tribes he admitted defrauding. The…

March 8, 2006 | War veterans try to topple congressional incumbents and their bigger war chests By Courtney Mabeus March 08, 2006 | To raise money for his congressional campaign in Minnesota, Tim Walz first had to learn how to sell himself. It’s a skill he didn’t have much need for in 24 years as a national guardsman, but,…

November 3, 2004 | Almost as soon as Election Day concluded, one thing was certain: Money won big in the 2004 elections.
In 95 percent of House races and 91 percent of Senate races that had been decided by mid-day today, the candidate who spent the most money won, according to a post-election analysis by the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics. The findings are based on figures reported Oct. 13 to the Federal Election Commission.

October 21, 2004 | The 2004 presidential and congressional elections will cost a record $3.9 billion, according to projections based on a study of campaign finance figures by the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics. The estimate represents a 30 percent increase over the $3 billion spent on federal elections four years ago.

Feel free to distribute or cite this material, but please credit the Center for Responsive Politics.
For permission to reprint for commercial uses, such as textbooks,
contact the Center.

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